Car hire Calvi

Introduction

Calvi is a small town on the French island of Corsica, which, because of its strategic location, often was a place of combat. In 1794 Admiral Nelson lost his right eye during the siege of the city, he was supposed to have said that he did not want to see the city anymore. In the 50's and 60's of the previous century, the scenic little town was discovered by prosperous British people who spend their holidays in Calvi.

Seen from the water, especially (situated high on top of a hill)  the Citadel catches one's eye.

Population

Calvi is a small town with no more than 6,000 inhabitants.

Location

Calvi lies in the northwest of Corsica, 24 kilometers west of L'Île-Rousse and 59 kilometers from Bastia.

Economy

Its economy mainly depends on tourism, the tourism industry started in the 50's of the previous century, when a Brit of Russian origin – Vladimir Raitz – started organizing charter flights. In that time it was the prosperous British people who could afford such a holiday.

From way back Calvi is a fishing town and fishing still is of great importance, furthermore there are ferry connections with the French mainland (Marseille, Nice, Toulon) and luxurious yachts visit the harbor.

Airports

Seven kilometers south of the city lies the airport Ste-Catherine airport, it is mainly used by budget airlines. Other airports are Bastia Airport (59 kilometers east of Calvi) and Ajaccio Airport (71 kilometers south of the city).

Public transport

There is no public transport in Calvi. Yet there are bus connections to other places in Corsica, including L'Île-Rousse, Bastia and Ajaccio.

The little red train that runs to L'Île-Rousse near the impressive coastline is very nice.

Traffic and parking

You will not need a car in Calvi, though it is the perfect means of transport to explore the surroundings. The main roads are generally good, but be aware for surprises on the secondary roads where the motto is "drive carefully". As road signs are often missing it is recommended to use a proper road map. 

Hotels

Due to the fact that Calvi was a holiday destination for a happy few, it is not surprising that the higher hotel segment is well established in Calvi. Yet there is sufficient accommodation for people with a limited budget such as basic guesthouses and hostels, furthermore there are many camping sites in the area. You can find more information at the tourist office in Quay Landry.

In general it is not difficult to find accommodation in Calvi, other than during the famous jazz festival which is held the third week of June.

External sources

For more information about Calvi, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Calvi
• Website of the city of Calvi (French)
• Visit Corsica, tourist information about Corsica (multilingual)